- Mirumi is the latest strange robot from Yukai Engineering
- Hangs on your bag
- You can “react”
Gadgets that provoke comments like “Why?” and “Is that thing looking at me?” They are the best of CES 2025 or the worst. Mirumi, a furry robot that wraps around the strap of a bag or backpack and watches friends, family and strangers, is that kind of device.
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Of course, you wouldn't expect anything less from Yukai Engineering, a company that has been responsible for the Qoobo furry tail therapeutic pillow and Amagami Ham Ham chew fingertips. In this case, the company describes Mirumi as “a pet robot that spontaneously turns its head to take a look at a nearby person.” Yes, that sounds wonderful.
If it's any consolation, the robot with its puffy gray body (also in pink), round, furry head and bulging eyes looks adorable. In fact, it would look like a tiny gray chick if it weren't for the oddly long arms you use to wrap around the straps of your purse and backpack.
Although Mirumi looks like a stuffed animal, she is full of technology. It has sensors to detect people and objects and the motorized head can rotate to “look at” them. The sensors also detect movement. It all works together to create a series of emotional responses, and much of it is designed to make Mirumi respond as a baby or toddler in your arms would respond to friends, strangers, and unfamiliar objects.
Mirumi can express curiosity; basically, the action of looking around caused by movement. If a person is detected nearby, the head will turn to look at them. He can also imitate shyness, hiding his head in your arm.
If you annoy Mirumi by shaking him, the little robot will turn his head back and forth to signal his displeasure.
There were no pricing or availability details at launch, but based on the prices of some of Yukai Engineering's other robots, this one might not cost more than $149.
Whether or not you want such a robot strapped to your bag is another question. It could entertain and delight people or make them wonder why that ball of dust in your bag is staring at them.